Conch Close Season Begins March 1

The Honourable Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries has declared, by Order, a Close Season for queen conch (Genus Strombus) for the period March 1, 2019 to January 31, 2020.

Persons in possession of conch meat and /or conch opercula must make two (2) declarations as follows:
1. The first should be made no later than March 7, 2019
2. The second should be made no later than March 28, 2019

All declarations of conch products in storage must satisfy the following conditions:
1. Made in writing on the standard declaration form entitled “Declaration of Conch Products in Storage”
2. Duly signed and dated by the person making the declaration
3. The original must be sent to, The Licensing Authority, Fisheries Division, Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, 2c Newport East, Kingston 11.
4. In addition to the original, scanned copies may be sent by email to fisheries_jamaica@live.com . The subject of the email should read, “Declaration of Conch in Storage”.

Declarations must include the following:

i. the name of the person having possession of the conch meat and/or conch opercula;
ii. the quantity by weight of conch opercula;
iii. the quantity by weight of conch meat;
iv. the processing level of conch (that is 50%, 65%, 85%, 100% (fillet) or ground).

Further, where applicable, any person storing conch meat and/or conch opercula on behalf of others must, in addition to their own declaration, also declare the name of the owners, the quantities by weight and processing level and the address at which the conch meat and or conch opercula are being stored, within 72 hours of receipt.

During the period of the close season, it SHALL be illegal for any person to catch queen conch and/or harvest any conch products (that is, conch shell and conch opercula).

For the first 21 days of the close season (that is March 1, 2019 to March 21, 2019), only conch meats which have been inspected and verified by the Fisheries Division via a Certificate of Conch in storage in 2018 and conch opercula may be sold, processed or imported.

Every person buying conch during the first 21 days of the close season must: (1) ensure that the seller is in lawful possession of the conch; and (2) keep a record of the identity of the seller and the date and the quantity of conch purchased.

During the period March 22, 2019 to January 31, 2020, it SHALL be illegal for any person to sell, process or import conch meat and/or conch opercula.

All conch meat and conch opercula in the possession of any person after March 21, 2019 which have not been inspected and verified by the Fisheries Division via a Certificate of Conch Products in storage SHALL be seized and the person in possession thereof SHALL be liable to prosecution and a fine or imprisonment in default of payment of such fine.

Who Must Make the Declaration:

Any person found in possession of conch meat and/or conch opercula for commercial purposes including, but not limited to: fishers, vendors, middlemen, wholesalers, cold storage facility operators, stores operators at hotels and restaurants, cook shop operators, all operators of eating establishments and jewelry establishments and any other establishment in possession of conch opercula for commercial purposes.

Declaration of Conch in Storage Forms
Standard Declaration of Conch in Storage forms may be received from the Fisheries Division or downloaded from the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries’ website at www.micaf.gov.jm.

Officers of the Fisheries Division are standing by for any clarification or information the public may require at 876-967-1601, 876-967-2081, 876-948-6933 or 876-948-9014.

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